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News from the Ministry

August issue of 'talk sustainability' now available

This monthly newsletter provides information on central and local government sustainability initiatives. It includes information on policy work and activities that are helping New Zealanders take practical steps to live more sustainably. [25 August 2008]

Environment New Zealand 2007 Independent Review

The Ministry commissioned an independent review to obtain stakeholder feedback on the readability, content and overall usefulness of the Environment New Zealand 2007 report. This is important as the Ministry will be producing national-scale state of the environment reports every five years. [22 August 2008]

Scope of a National Policy Statement on Urban Design

The Government has decided that preparing a national policy statement on urban design under the RMA is desirable. In particular, it considers that national guidance will help to improve the quality of urban design in New Zealand, and national guidance will complement existing voluntary, non-statutory initiatives like the New Zealand Urban Design Protocol. The Ministry for the Environment is now seeking views on how a national policy statement on urban design might be framed. [15 August 2008]

Board will consider renewable electricity generation policy

The Minister for the Environment today announced an independent board of inquiry to consider a proposed national policy statement which would recognise the national significance of renewable electricity generation. It is now available for viewing and the board will call for submissions in the upcoming weeks. [13 August 2008]

Launch of the eco-labels directory

This directory has been developed by the New Zealand government to improve the availability of information about ecolabels and other sustainability indicators relevant to our consumers, suppliers and other organisations. It provides summary information about each label, and users are encouraged to access further detail from ecolabel owners' websites using the links provided. [11 August 2008]

Environmental Indicators Quarterly - Issue 1

Welcome to the first issue of Environmental Indicators Quarterly, the Ministry for the Environment’s e-newsletter linking you to information on what’s happening in the realm of environmental reporting. [8 August 2008]

Thinking of building or renovating? Here's a guide to resource consents and building consents

A beginner's guide to resource and building consent processes under the Resource Management Act 1991 and the Building Act 2004 [7 August 2008]

Call for nominations for new Waste Advisory Board

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard is calling for nominations for members to form a new Waste Advisory Board. [6 August 2008]

Assessing Discharges to Air - Good Practice Guides updated

Two good practice guides have been updated, with reports on submissions also published and available online. [31 July 2008]

Ongoing management of conditionally released genetically modified organisms

On 14 July 2008 the government’s Cabinet Business Committee considered a series of proposals aimed at providing a greater level of transparency and increased accountability in the management of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). [31 July 2008]

Ministry to assess Mapua report recommendations

The Ministry for the Environment today welcomed the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment’s finding that the main purpose of the contaminated site clean-up at Mapua has been achieved, and the site is no longer a danger for the surrounding community. [29 July 2008]

Coastal hazards and climate change: A guidance manual for local government in New Zealand:

This Guidance Manual is intended to help local authorities manage coastal hazards by providing information on the effects of climate change on coastal hazards, presenting a decision-making framework to assess the associated risks and providing guidance on appropriate response options. [29 July 2008]

Preparing for climate change: A guide for local government in New Zealand

Preparing for Climate Change is a summary of the technical report Climate Change Effects and Impacts Assessment (2nd ed.) released in May 2008. It highlights the most up-to-date projections on how New Zealand’s climate will change in the future. [29 July 2008]

July issue of Environz

This magazine published by the Ministry for the Environment provides information on environment issues of the day, environmental policy development, and action by the Ministry, its partners and stakeholders. [27 July 2008]

Proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management

The Government has announced a proposed National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management. A Board of Inquiry has been appointed to publicly notify and undertake a formal consultation process on the proposal. [23 July 2008]

New aquaculture initiatives announced

The Government has announced funding for six new aquaculture projects aimed at progressing aquaculture planning and enabling greater use and flexibility of existing aquaculture space. [22 July 2008]

Inspection of on-site wastewater systems

The government is considering developing a national environmental standard for the inspection of septic tanks and other on-site wastewater systems. The Ministry is seeking public submissions and invites your views, which must be received by 5pm on Friday, 26 September 2008. [18 July 2008]

Sustainable Management Fund to open in October

The 2009/10 funding round of the Sustainable Management Fund (SMF) will open in October 2008 (for projects commencing 1 July 2009). [14 July 2008]

Cabinet paper on proposals for Exclusive Economic Zone environmental effects legislation

The Cabinet paper on proposals for Exclusive Economic Zone environmental effects legislation is now available. [27 June 2008]

2008 Green Ribbon Awards winners

The 2008 Green Ribbon Awards have taken place, honouring the outstanding contributions to the environment and heralding the beginning of events celebrating New Zealand’s hosting of World Environment Day. [6 June 2008]

Speech: Communities for Climate Protection – New Zealand 2008 National Forum

Howard Fancy, Acting Chief Executive, addressed the 2008 Communities for Climate Protection (CCP-NZ) national forum on 2 April 2008. The CCP-NZ programme works with local government to measure their greenhouse gas emissions and to develop and implement action plans to reduce them. [28 May 2008]

Release of guidance manual paves way for better planning around climate change

A guidance manual released today by the Ministry for the Environment provides the latest projections of the expected impacts of climate change on New Zealand, and advice for councils nationwide on tackling their effects. [27 May 2008]

Cabinet paper: Report back on development of national environmental standards for electricity transmission

This Cabinet paper proposes to reevaluate the draft National Environment Standards for Electricity Transmission as a result of the submission process. [27 May 2008]

Ministry report blueprint for environmentally friendly printing

The Ministry for the Environment’s milestone state of the environment publication has won a gold award for using best practice environmental printing processes [22 May 2008]

Statement of Intent

The Statement of Intent for 2008-2011 is now available. It gives an indication of where the Ministry is now and where we are heading over the next three years and includes our forecast financial statements. [22 May 2008]

Ecological flows and water levels - new workshop dates

The public workshops for the National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels have been rescheduled to start on 26 May and run through to 13 June. [15 May 2008]

Review of New Zealand’s 2007 Net Position Report

This document presents the findings of a review of New Zealand's 2007 net position report (September 2007) which describes the 2007 estimate of New Zealand's net position with respect to its Kyoto target over the first commitment period. [15 May 2008]

Net Position Report 2008: Projected balance of emissions units during the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol

The net position is New Zealand’s projected balance of Kyoto Protocol units during the first commitment period (2008-2012) of the Kyoto Protocol. The balance of units is a projection of what actual emissions will be reported in New Zealand national greenhouse inventory submissions over the commitment period and government transfers of Kyoto emissions units. [13 May 2008]

Wood burner performance reviewed

The Ministry, in partnership with Environment Canterbury and Nelson City Council, has released a report detailing design verification and emissions and efficiency testing of 10 wood burners. The review revealed poor compliance. The Ministry strongly recommends councils, retailers and consumers continue to refer only to the national authorised list of wood burners. [7 May 2008]

Guidance for second generation planning goes live

Structuring, organising, and writing regional and district plans is a little easier with new RMA guidance that went live today on the Quality Planning website. [1 May 2008]

Recycling in Public Places Initiative

The second round of funding for councils is now open as part of the Ministry's Recycling in Public Places Initiative. Applications close on 13 June 2008. [28 April 2008]

Implementation workshops - drinking water sources standard

Dates have been announced for national workshops on implementation of the National Environmental Standard for Sources of Human Drinking Water. [22 April 2008]

New Zealand’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990-2006: An Overview

This document provides an overview of "New Zealand's Greenhouse Gas Inventory 1990 - 2006". The full inventory report is available on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website. [16 April 2008]

Guidance for Voluntary, Corporate Greenhouse Gas Reporting

This publication gives guidance for corporations on voluntary Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reporting, including emission factors. It is intended to help those corporates that wish to voluntarily monitor and report greenhouse gas emissions on an organisational basis for their New Zealand operations. [10 April 2008]

Making Good Decisions programme

Over 300 local decision-makers participated in the recent training and certification round following on from the 2007 local body elections. If successful, they will join over 900 current certificate holders. Workshops associated with the first-ever round of re-certification have now kicked off as well. [8 April 2008]

Carbon Neutral Public Service programme

Emission inventory reports for the 2006/07 financial year have been published by the 34 core public service agencies. Reduction plans have also been published highlighting the actions agencies will be taking to reduce their emissions. [4 April 2008]

Aquaculture Planning Fund

Applications are invited for the first funding round for 2008/09. The fund round closes at noon on 30 May 2008. [1 April 2008]

March issue of Environz

Ecological flows and water levels -national environmental standard

The Government intends to develop a national environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels. The Ministry will seek public submissions beginning on Saturday 29 March. [20 March 2008]

National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission

A new National Policy Statement on Electricity Transmission gives guidance to local government across New Zealand for the management and future planning of the national grid. [11 March 2008]

Minister appoints Board for Te Mihi geothermal proposal

Environment Minister Trevor Mallard today announced the members of a Board of Inquiry to consider Contact Energy’s proposal for a new geothermal power station at Te Mihi near Taupo. [6 March 2008]

Standards for telecommunications facilities to proceed

The Government has confirmed that national environmental standards for telecommunications facilities will be drafted into regulation. These standards cover the erection of roadside cabinets (which can contain equipment for telephones and internet), the addition of antennas to existing structures such as light poles on roadsides or verges, radiofrequency fields and noise levels from the cabinets. [6 March 2008]

Board of Inquiry decides on adjournment request – 3 March 2008

The Board of Inquiry for the Upper North Island Grid Upgrade proposal has released its decision on the adjournment request lodged by counsel on behalf of Robert McQueen. [4 March 2008]